When it comes to submission defense, let me ask you a question. Do you want to be part of the countering-submission squad or the department of submission prevention?
I believe the later is the best.
I’ve been watching Josh Barnett’s Attacking the guard, and coupled with something I read from SBGi’s Matt Thornton, I’ve been made a big believer in the department of submission prevention. Its the difference between having a fence on the cliff or an ambulance in the valley. Practice shutting down submission techniques the moment the arise – it’s a good habit. Waiting till the submission is set in is the equivalent of the college all-night cram session. Yes, you need to do it sometimes, but why not study attack the problem earlier? It’s a healthier, and more successful.
In this vein, I was thinking about the kimura and how to not let it happen. Below are a few vids that touch on the “shut down as early as possible” theme.
Also check out Gene Simco’s technique (embedding was not allowed) here.
Of course the real way to stop the kimura is to nerf the basing structure of your opponent and always maintain dominant grips – which is to say, stay in control.
I’d like to know your thoughts – how do *you* like to avoid the kimura and escape it if you get caught?
So … I’ve been sick for the last six weeks or so (non-communicable lung infection) which makes me cry, because jujitsu justice is not being performed at full throttle. However, the lockdown of illness has been ebbing and I’ve rebounded with a counter submission of my own – suck monkey turd, disease! – my immune system.
In that spirit, we spend last night’s class on only one submission, the KIMURA. While we used the kimura in several different circumstances (breaking the grip of a back-to-belly hold, from the guard, etc) we spend a good deal of time with the half guard kimura. Not only do I love the half guard kimura, but so does Krzysztof Soszynski.
Thankfully, the submission is much easier than spelling his name.
First, we over the basic points of the kimura, nicely summarized by Steven Kesting, of grapple arts renown.
To add to this, we discussed some variations. If your opponent tries to pass to you back underneath your leg, you can use it to sweep or transition to an armbar. Or if you’re wily enough, sometimes get your outside leg rapped around the back and into the arm space your attacking, without them trying to pass underneath it. Kinda like rubber guard … ish. I love to try it because it baits people to pass under it, which leads to the aforementioned armbar. Below, a video that explains that pretty darn well (check the last half, it’s 8 minute vid).
So to recap, here are the basic pointers of finishing the half guard kimura.
Keep tight on his arm, otherwise they’ll worm out of it.
After you slap on the kimura, get the wrist beyond (behind) their ribcage fast. Don’t slow down until they can’t grab onto something. Being slow on the upward motion begs a block.
Keep the hand away from his thighs – even beginning grapplers will block you with the “scratch the groin” defense. Prevent this in the first place.
After you get the arm on its way behind the back, to painville, get out from underneath the guy and get to the side. Seeing the videos will make this clear.
Anyway, while rolling with one of the guys post instruction, I get caught in a solid kimura from half guard and was pleased to remember how much it hurts. However, with Christmas right around the corner, remember that it is far more blessed to give, than receive.
Masahiko Kimura is one of best judo practicioners in history, so it reasons that a high class submission would be named after him. The story goes that Masahiko fought jujitsu legend Helio Gracie and broke his arm with this move, and BJJ guys have been calling it the kimura ever since.
Just look at the dude. (above) I’d name my firstborn after him, even if he wasn’t a hardcore judoka.
Now days, because every mixed martial artist with even a passable knowledge in jujitsu knows the the kimura, it can be a bit tricky to submit a guy with it. A lot of fighters know the specific counters or blocks, or just how to posture and prevent kimura opportunities. Which is, of course, why we need to take our game to the next level.
In the video below, Ari shows how to use your legs to help sneak in the kimura.
One of the most important things about getting the kimura to work is to escape your hips on the side on which you are working the arm. Getting your hips out will help you flatten out your opponent. It is important to keep the leg on top squeezing down, so the kimura’d person doesn’t try to roll out of the lock.
Another tip to getting the kimura is to keep your opponent’s hand well away from his/her body so they don’t block the kimura by grabbing their gi pants or wrestling shorts. If they do grab some clothing – keeping their arm from going backward – you can try to overpower them or do something trickier. That’s where the kimura sweep comes into play.
After you sweep them and take the mount, it’s candyland. You can either abandon the kimura and work something else, or you can finish the kimura from the mount. If you follow that link, I think you’ll enjoy their clever way to sweep from the guard and finish the lock.
One more thing – so people have trouble finishing their opponent.(Some guys just have really flexible shoulders!). Three things to keep in mind.
1. Keep a 90 degree angle in the elbow joint. If the opponent’s hand gets too close to their armpit, the kimura becomes a hammerlock – which many people are more immune to – or they can try to grab clothing and block.
2. Move the elbow up toward the head. If you have fully escaped your hips, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
[Bill and Ted meet themselves] Ted: OK wait. If you guys are really us, what number are we thinking of? Bill, Ted: 69, dudes. Bill, Ted: Whoa.
[quadruple air guitar solo]
- Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
The north south position is a very dominant ground position, and in my opinion, is both very dangerous (for the bottom) and wildly under-utilized. Part of it comes from ignorance and part of it comes from people’s natural discomfort. The whole face-into-crotch thing makes for a weird experience when you’re grappling. However, you just got to get over it.
